Use of violuric acid as a fungicide or bactericide

ABSTRACT

Violuric acid can be used to inhibit and/or prevent the growth of many undesirable forms of algae, bacteria and fungi. This invention is particularly concerned with the algaecidal properties of violuric acid against the algae species Scenedesmus, Plectonema, Anabaena, Ankistrodesmus, Oscillatoria, Coccochloris, Chlamydomonas, Lyngbya, Synura and Chlorella. The bactericidal properties of violuric acid are especially useful in combating Xanthomonas and Erwinia species.

United States Patent 1 Douros, Jr. et al.

Apr. 17, 1973 USE OF VIOLURIC ACID AS A FUNGICIDE OR BACTERICIDE Inventors: John D. Douros, Jr.; Al F. Kerst,

both of Littleton, Colo.

Assignee: The Gates Rubber Company,

Denver, Colo.

Filed: Aug. 31, 1970 Appl. No.: 78,322

US. Cl ..424/251, 71/67 Int. Cl. ..A0ln 9/00, AOln 9/22 Field of Search ..424/251 References Cited OTHER PUBLICATIONS Guinchard, J. Chem. Ber. 32, 1723 (1899).

Ceresole, J. Chem. Ber. 16, l 133 (1883).

Primary Examiner-Albert T. Meyers Assistant Examiner-Allen J. Robinson Attorney-Raymond Fink, H. W. Oberg, Jr. and Curtis H. Castleman, Jr.

[5 7] ABSTRACT Violun'c acid can be used to inhibit and/or prevent the growth of many undesirable forms of algae, bacteria and fungi. This invention is particularly concerned with the algaecidal properties of violuric acid against the algae species Scenedesmus, Plectonema, Anabaena, Ankistrodesmus, Oscillatoria, Coccochloris, Chlamydomonas, Lyngbya, Synura and Chlorella. The bactericidal properties of violuric acid are especially useful in combating Xanthomonas and Erwinia species.

6 Claims, No Drawings USE OF VIOLURIC ACID AS A F UNGICIDE OR BACTERICIDE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The demand for both general and selective algaecides has become more acute as greater demands are put upon existing water supplies. The chemical arts have produced a variety of compounds which have proved to be useful in controlling many algae species responsible for various nuisance and health problems. Water treatment researchers such as Palmer, C. and Maloney, T., Ohio Jour. of Sci., 55, l (1955) and Sawyer, C., Jour. of Water Pollution Control Federation, 34, 279 (1962) have reported the use of a wide variety of chemical algaecides such as copper sulphates, chlorine, quaternary ammonium, rosin amines, quinones, activated silver, antibiotics and organic zinc compounds. Representative patented algaecidal compounds can be found in U. S. Pat. Nos. 2,999,810; 3,052,594; 3,396,158 and 3,481,730. Similarly, the demand for selective bactericidal and fungicidal compounds has grown with man s increased concern for the environmental damage caused by many fungicidal and pesticidal compounds. Chemical research has developed many microorganism inhibiting compounds which contain the barbituric acid nucleus;

wherein R represents various substituents. Representative biologically active barbituric compounds are found in U. S. Pat. Nos. 2,561,688; 2,605,209; 2,725,380; 2,820,035; 2,887,487 and 3,102,072. The algaecidal, bactericidal, or fungicidal properties of violuric acid however, have not been previously discovered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, it has been found that violuric acid compounds are very effective algaecidal, bactericidal and fungicidal agents. Violuric acid has been known to the chemical arts for many years and references to various synthetic procedures for preparing it have been given by Guinchard, J., Chem. Ber., 32, 1723 (1899) and Cresole, M., Chem. Ber., 16, 1133 (1883).

The violuric acid used in this invention was prepared by the following procedure. A S-Iiter flask was equipped with an overhead stirrer, thermometer and powder addition funnel whereupon.3.7 liters of water and 240 grams of hydroxylamine hydrochloride were added to 500 grams of alloxan monohydrate. The mixture was heated at 80 90 C. for 1 hour. The final solution was concentrated by removing water under vacuum until precipitation started. The final reaction mixture was cooled in ice and the product isolated by filtration. The final product was characterized by its decomposition point (240 C.), infrared spectrum and nitrogen analysis.

UTILITY OF THE INVENTION The presence of algae in water can result in such deleterious efiects as rampant plant growth, health hazards, discoloration, bad taste and odor as well as blockage of pipes, filters, tanks and similar equipment. The applicants have discovered that violuric acid compounds can be used to inhibit the growth of a wide variety of algae species which cause these problems in water supplies. For example, violuric acid compounds may be employed against: (1) taste and odor causing algae such as Anabaena and Synura; (2) filter clogging algae such as Chlorella, Oscillatoria and Anabaena; (3) polluted water algae such as Lyngbya, Chlamydomonas, Anabaena and Oscillatoria; (4) clean water algae such as Ankistrodesmus and (5) surface water algae such as Scenedesmus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The algaecidal effectiveness of violuric acid against these species was determined by the following test. Algal cultures representing Scenedesmus, Chlorella, Plectonema, Anacystis, Ankistrodesmus, Anabaena, Synura, Oscillatoria, Chlamydomonas, Coccochloris and Lyngbya were each maintained in Chu No. 10 Broth Medium (Calcium nitrate, 0.040 grams; Potassium phosphate, 0.010 grams; Magnesium sulphate, 0.025 grams; Sodium carbonate, 0.020 grams; Sodium silicate, 0.025 grams; Ferric citrate, 0.003 grams; Citric acid, 0.003 grams and deionized water, 1,000 ml.) in the presence of sunlight. Hardened Chu No. 10 Agar plates were inoculated with cotton swabs saturated with the respective algae broth cultures. The violuric acid was tested by impregnating filter papers discs (1.27 cm. in diameter, No. 740-E, Schleicher and Schuell, Keene, New Hampshire) with 0.08 ml. of a violuric acid solution. The saturated filter discs were placed on the surface of the seeded agar plates and the optimum broth temperature of 25 to 27 C. was mainhibition zone diameters in centimeters.

Algal Screen Zones of Inhibition for Compound; Violuric Acid Various Concentrations Algae 100 10 3 ug/disc ug/disc ug/disc Scenedesmus basilensis Taft EEC 83 1.7 0 Scenedesmus obliquu: Taft EEC 92 2.0 1 00 0 Scenedesmus obliquu: SR1 Trace 0 0 (hlorella vulgank ATCC 9765 Trace 0 0 Plecronema noralum Taft EEC 172 2.5 1.80 1.0 Anacysris nidulans Taft EEC 134 Trace 0 0 Ankismxiesumwvar. acicularis Taft EEC 28 2.0 1.1 0 Anabaena catenula SR1 1.9 1.0 O Synura ulvella UI trace 0 0 Oscillatoria corneu' UI 1.8 1.0 0 Cmcochloris zlebans SR1 1.7 0 0 Chlamydomonm mdian'UA 1.8 1.0 O Lyngbya sp. Taft EEC 166 1.9 0 0 Those skilled in the art will recognize that the scope of this invention should not be limited to the particular species of the above genera. Forinstance, the noted activity of violuric acid against Chlorella vulgaris suggests that the compound will also prove to be of value against such other Chlorella species such as Chlorella ellipsoidea, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, Chlorella variegata etc. Similar possibilities exist for species of the'other genera whose activity was shown to be arrested by violuric acid. It should also be recognized that other ap propriate algae genera may well afford additional opportunities to further define the degree and spectrum of the algaecidal activity disclosed in this invention. Since no firm procedure can be laid down for the sequencing of such evaluations or for a selection among the more than 20,000 known algae species, the violuric acid compounds of this invention must be considered on the basis of their demonstrated performance in these primary evaluations and then progressively judged in subsequent studies.

Subsequent evaluations should include but not be limited to the following algae genera.

Taste and Odor Causing Algae Genera Asterionella Peridinium Nitella Anabaena Mallomonas Dinobryon Microcystis Aphanizomenon Volvox Uroglenopsis Staurastrum Pandorina HydrodictyorCeratium Synura Synedra Coelosphaerium Clear Water Algae Genera Rhizoclonium Merismopedia Meridion Pinnularia Aphanothece Chromulina Cladophora Ulothrix Phacotus Rhodomonas Navicula Staurastrum Surirella Chamaesiphon Lemanea Cyclotella Micrasterias Cocconeis Chrysococcus Calothrix Microcoleus Ankistrodesmus Polluted Water Algae Genera Arthrospira Tetraedron Anabaena Merismopedia Euglena Phacus Phormidium Spirogyra Gloeogapsa Carteria Chlorococcum Stigeoclonium Lepocinclis Oscillatoria Gornphonema Nitzschia Lyngbya Chlamydomonas Chlamydobotrys Filter Clogging Algae Genera Anabaena Closterium Spirogyra Chroococcus Tabellaria Trachelomonas Dinobryon Rivularia Asterionella Cymbella Melosira Palmella Chlorella Cyclotella Diatoma Synedra Navicula Fragilarai Tribonema Oscillatoria Surface Water Algae Genera Actinastrum Euastrum Zygnema Nodularia Gonium Stauroneis Coelastrum Desmidium Sphaerocystis Euglena Pediastrum Scenedesmus Mieractinium Eudorina Oocystis Mougeotia Gomphosphaeria Reservoir Algae Genera Chara Audouinella Compsopogon Phcrmidium Tetraspora Batrachospennum Ulothrix Achnanthes Cymbella Cladophora Stigeoclonium Bulbochaete Gomphonema Lyngbya Draparnaldia It should also be recognized that the use of algaecidal violuric acid compounds should not be restricted to any particular area of application. The scope of this invention should encompass the use of violuric acid in waters of all types such as lakes, rivers, streams, reservoirs, ponds, oceans, as well as "recirculating industrial waters. Furthermore, violuric acid compounds of the present invention are also advantageous in that they, are biodegradable with none of the degradation products being toxic to fish and most fish food organisms at algae killing concentrations.

Laboratory tests have also shown that violuric acid compounds can be used to protect plant life from diseases caused by bacteria such as Xanthomonas and Erwinia. This is of commercial significance since many species of Xanthomonas and Erwinia cause rotting diseases of corn, sweet potato, cucumber, tomato and wheat as well as late and early blight of fruits. Violuric acid compounds have proved to be particularly effective in reducing losses due to Bacterial Leaf Spot of Tomatoes, Xanthomonas vesicatoria and Late Blight of Fruits, Erwinia carotovora. The effectiveness of violuric acid compounds against these particular diseases was established in the following manner. The violuric acid composition was prepared for spraying by dissolving it in a suitable solvent such as acetone, methyl alcohol, or ethyl alcohol and then diluting the solution to the desired concentration with deionized water containing wetting and dispersing agents. Tomato seedlings, Bonny Best variety, in 7-leaf to 8-leaf growth stage, were mounted on a compound turntable and sprayed at 35 pounds pressure for 50 seconds with violuric acid solutions at the concentration indicated below. 'After drying, treated plants were spray-inoculated at 30 pounds pressure with an aqueous cell suspension of Xanthomonas vesicatoria containing five percent Carborundum and then immediately placed in an incubation chamber maintained at F. and percent plus R.l-l. After 40 hours in the incubation chamber, the plants were removed to the greenhouse for further development of the infection. Disease severity was determined by counting the lesions present on six to seven treated leaves. The efiectiveness of treatment was determined by direct comparison with inoculated controls. Streptomycin sulfate was used as a reference standard.

The test procedures used to establish the efficacy of violuric acid against Erwinia carotovora, ATCC 495, were as follows. Macintosh apple seedlings in the trueleaf stage, grown from seed under greenhouse conditions were mounted on a compound turntable and sprayed at 30 pounds pressure with a violuric acid solution at the concentrations indicated below. The violuric acid was prepared for spraying by dissolving it in aplace for approximately 10 days. By this procedure treated plants were subjected to the cited initial spore shower'as well as to continuing natural infection pressure from the surrounding inoculum. Observations days after initial inoculation were used to determine the duration of effectiveness of treatments. Untreated controls reflected a 75 percent to 100 percent leaf area diseased at this time. The effectiveness of treatment was determined by direct comparison with untreated inoculated controls. Captan was used as a reference standard.

The results of these tests were as follows:

Microorganism Xanthomonas Erwinia vesicatoria carolovora inhibition at 500 ppm 80% 63% inhibition at 1,000 ppm 100% 98% Control Streptomycin sulfate Karathane Control Concentration 100 ppm 200 ppm In many situations the concentration of violuric acid required to inhibit the growth of bacteria or fungi will vary with the type of plant to which it is applied and the inherent ability of the environment to support the bacteria or fungi growth. In most cases however, the concentration of the violuric acid will vary from 1 to 1,000 ppm with the preferred amount being in the range of 100 700 ppm.

Those skilled in the art will also recognize that the scope of this invention should not be limited to any particular disease or to any particular species of the genera listed above. For instance, the noted activity of violuric acid against Xanthomonas vesicatoria suggests that the compounds will also prove to be of value against such other Xanthomonas species as Xanthomonas phaseoli (Common Bacterial Blight of Bean), Xanthomonas vasculorum (Gumming Disease of Sugar Cane) and Xanthomonas malvacearum (Bacterial Blight of Cotton). Similar possibilities exist for various other Erwinia species. It should also be recognized that other protectant, systemic and eradicant procedures may provide detection of other biological activities for violuric acid compounds. Pathogens representative of Phycomycetes, Ascomycetes, Basidromycetes and the Fungi Imperfecti may provide indices of other bactericidal or fungicidal activity. Other appropriate host plants may establish additional plant tolerance data. Additional pathogens and appropriate host plants may well afford opportunities to further define the degree and spectrum of the activity disclosed in this invention. Since no firm rules of procedure can be laid down for the sequencing of such evaluations or for the choice of pathogens, these violuric acid compounds should be considered on the basis of their demonstrated performance in such primary evaluations and then progressively judged in subsequent studies. A wide range of pathogens, representative of economically important diseases, can be used to help define the spectra of activity and to assure high degrees of success under field conditions. The following disease organisms, crops and reference standards may be used in such evaluations:

Reference Disease Disease Organism Compound Leaf Rust of Wheat Puccinia rubigo- Maneb,

vera Karathane Leaf Rust of Wheat Puccinia rubr'go-' vera Plantvax Rice Blast Disease Piricularia oryme Blasticidin Downy Mildew of Sugar Beet Peronorpora rchactii Karathane Downy Mildew of Lima Bean Phyrophlhara phaseoli Karathane Bean Rust Uromyces phaseoli var. rypica Maneb Powdery Mildew of Wheat Erysiphe gramimlr Karathane Powdery Mildew of Apple Podosphaera leucalricha Karathane Powdery Mildew of Roses Sphaerolhem pannosa var. rosae Karathane Powdery Mildew of Cantalope Erysiphe cicheracearum Karathane Leaf Spot of Wheat Helminthosparium sntivum Maneb Early Blight of Tomato Alremaria solani Maneb Rice Blast Disease Piricularia oryzae Blasticidin Cercospora Leaf Spot of Sugar Beets Cercospora bericala Maneb Septoria Leaf Spot of Celery Septoria apiigraviolennlr Maneb Apple Scab Venturia inaequalis Cyprex Common Bacterial Blight of Bean Xanthomonas Streptomycin,

phaseqli Sulfate Note: Wherever possible, the

Applicants recommend the use of in vivo" procedures to test the violuric acid compositions of this invention to demonstrate their efficacy under more realistic conditions. However, not all pathogens lend themselves to such techniques. In order to provide additional spectrum definitions, the following fruit-rotting, storage decay and bacterial pathogens may be tested by "in vitro" methods:

Brown rot of Stone Sclerotinia Fruits fructicola Captan Grey Mold on Fruit and Vegetables Bolryis cinerea Maneb Rhizopus Fruit and Rhizopus Vegetable Rot nigrican: Maneb Citrus Green Mold Penicillium digilarum Maneb Citrus Blue Mold Penicillium italicum Karathane Bacterial disease of many Fruit Crops Pseudomonas syr-ingae Captan It should also be noted that the protection afforded by violuric acid compounds is achieved with very little damage to the general environment since violuric acid exhibits a high degree of biodegradability. Another important advantage of violuric acid compounds in their algaecidal and agricultural applications is that they can be made up in solid or liquid formulations. Examples of solid formulations are dust, wettable powders, granules and pellets known to the crop dusting art. Solid formulations, particularly floating solid formulations, may also be preferred in combating algae which grow on surface waters. As a dust, violuric acid compounds may be dispersed in powdered solid carriers such as talc, soaps, soapstone, attapulgus clay as well as other finely divided solids. When formulated as wettable powders, the active violuric acid component may be employed in conjunction with inert fillers which may be of the clay type carrier or non-clay type, in conjunction with various combinations of wetting agents and emulsifiers which may permit the adaptation of concentration as a free-flowing powder. Each of these carriers may contain one or more of the specified violuric acid compounds with other carriers which are ordinarily nonreacting or inert substances such as sand, clays, talc,

sawdust, alkaline earth carbonates, oxides, phosphates and the like as well as diatomaceous earth, micas or other suitable materials.

When liquid formulations are desired, liquid extenders, dilutants or carriers of a non-reactive nature may be utilized. These compositions should contain approximately 0.1 percent to 20 percent by weight and preferably 1 percent to 10 percent and most preferably 1 percent to 3 percent of the active violuric acid ingredient. Solvents which may be used in the preparation of such compositions would include alcohols, ketones, glycols, mineral spirits and aromatic solvents such as benzene, xylene, nitrobenzene and dimethylformide. Furthermore, to assist in the rapid and complete dispersion in water systems, these violuric acid compositions may also contain approximately 5 percent to 30 percent by weight and preferably percent to percent by weight of surface-active agents. Suitable surface-active agents include sodium dialkyl sulphates, sodium alkylbenzene sulfonates, sodium carboxylates and nonionic surfactants such as ethoxylated fatty acid alcohols and amines.

Where it is desired to use wettable powders or liquid formulations, either emulsified, dispersed, or suspended in water or other fluids, one or more of the class of materials herein referred to as adjuvants may also be incorporated into the powder, dust or liquid formulation. These adjuvants may comprise surface active agents, detergents, wettable agents, stabilizers, dispersing agents, suspending agents, emulsifying agents, spreaders, stickers and conditioning agents generally. Through their modifying characteristics these adjuvants may facilitate handling application and may enhance or potentiate the violuric acid compounds of this invention in their algaecidal, bactericidal or fungicidal activities by mechanisms which are frequently not well understood. A satisfactory but not exhaustive list of these adjuvants appears in Soap Chemical Specialties, Volume 31, No. 7, Page 61; No. 8, Pages 48 61; No. 9, Pages 52 67 and No. 10, Pages 38 67 (1955). See also bulletin No. 607 of the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine of the United States Department of Agriculture.

An additional advantage of the violuric acid compositions of this invention is their compatability with a wide variety of other algaecidal, biocidal and fungicidal materials. For example, it may be convenient to combine one or more of the violuric acid compositions with one or more of the other biocides, fungicides, or algaecides. For example, common fungicides and bicoides such as sulphur, inorganic salts such as copper sulphate, activated colloidal silver compounds, copper naphthenate and zinc acetate as well as substituted hydrocarbons and quarternary ammonium compounds, amines and antibiotics may be employed in conjunction with violuric acid compounds.

It should be recognized that other considerations may make some methods of application more favored than othersfI'hese considerations may include the type of organisms on which the compound is to be administered, the degree of activity, the degree of inhibition toward the algae organism and possible environmental side effects. Also to be considered is the cost of production and the characteristic solubility of the compounds into which the violuric acid may be introduced.

1n eir algaecidal aspects the applicants have discovered that the violuric acid compounds of this invention are active algaecides at relatively low concentrations. For example, it has been discovered that the violuric compounds have imparted a high degree of a1- gaecidal activity at concentrations as low as 0.1 ppm. The amount of violuric acid added to the water will, of course, vary depending upon such factors as the type of algae present, the nature of the body of water, i.e., flowing stream versus small lake etc., and the inherent ability of the body of water to support algae growth. This inherent ability in turn depends upon such factors as exposure to sunlight, PH, nutrient capabilities and the like. In most cases, however, the concentration of violuric acids required to kill or inhibit growth of algaes will vary from 0.1 to ppm with the preferred range being 10 to 20 ppm.

The violuric acid compounds of this invention can be added to the water according to conventional techniques for algaecide application. When treating a lake or body of water which is relatively calm, the conventional procedure is to spray an aqueous solution of the algaecide over the surface of the water. The violuric acid generally will be pre-dissolved in the types of water soluble solvents previously mentioned. In the case of moving water, such as in water treatment plants or industrial facilities, violuric acid algaecides can be added to the water in small amounts at periodic intervals. For economic reasons, volume usage such as in lakes, streams and reservoirs as distinguished from specialized uses such as in aquatic gardens and industrial applications, the concentration of the violuric acid a]- gaecides probably will not be over 10 ppm.

Having thus disclosed our invention, we claim:

1. A method of killing bacteria or fungi which comprises applying to said bacteria or fungi an effective bactericidal or fungicidal amount of violuric acid.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the bacteria are selected from the group consisting of Xanthomonas and Erwinia.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the Xanthomonas is Xanthomonas vesicatoria.

4. The method according to claim 2 wherein the Erwinia is Erwinia carotovora. v

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said bactericidal or fungicidal amounts of violuric acid are dispersed in an inert carrier.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said violuric acid is applied to said bacteria or fungi in concentrations of from about 1 PPM to about 1,000 PPM. 

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the bacteria are selected from the group consisting of Xanthomonas and Erwinia.
 3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the Xanthomonas is Xanthomonas vesicatoria.
 4. The method according to claim 2 wherein the Erwinia is Erwinia carotovora.
 5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said bactericidal or fungicidal amounts of violuric acid are dispersed in an inert carrier.
 6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said violuric acid is applied to said bacteria or fungi in concentrations of from about 1 PPM to about 1,000 PPM. 